Sadiq Khan says police have been “sensitive” to concerns about uniformed officers
London Mayor Sadiq Khan said that while officers would be present on Saturday to keep people safe during the celebrations, those taking part in the parade would not go evenly due to activists’ “legitimate concerns”.
The move comes after Peter Tatchell and other LGBTQ + activists expressed concern about the Met’s “homophobic” management of the serial killer investigation Stephen Port. Tatchell said the case showed that “institutional homophobia is alive and kicking the metropolitan police” and that it would not be right for uniformed officers to march in the parade.
In previous years, metropolitan police officers have participated in the parade with work clothes.
Updated at 13.43 BST
Noah Colton, 18, attended as his drag person Eva More. Photography: Amy Walker / The Guardian
For 18-year-old Noah Colton (pictured above), who attended as Eva More, today’s event was about “recognizing” the Pride story on its 50th anniversary, but most of all about passing -Okay.
“I’m trying to focus on enjoying it and seeing it as a community meeting where you can be who you want to be, instead of politicizing it,” he said.
Wearing seven-inch silver heels, the plan, he said, was to walk all six hours in March before heading to Trafalgar Square and then to Clapham in south London for a night of drag.
“I have more comfortable shoes in my bag,” he admitted.
Many participants have Ukrainian flags while participating in the march.
Participants in the London Pride March hold flags in support of Ukraine. Photography: Henry Nicholls / Reuters
A film made by Pride in London for today’s event shows “how far we have come in the last 50 years and how far we have to go.”
This from my partner Amy Walker who has joined the parade:
At Marble Arch at lunchtime, a crowd of people adorned with Pride and trans flags cheered as the parade floats prepared to board, while dance music played through the speakers on board. .
While many of those with the most elaborate outfits (high platform heels and short tops with straps) were from the younger ranks in the community, many veterans also attended.
Winston Woodfine, 59, dressed in a Nike cap, a Ralph Lauren tracksuit and sneakers, said that despite the wait, this year would be a more “subdued” affair.
“I used to dress up with friends, but some of them are no longer with us and some have moved,” he said.
But he added that he considered the event itself to be no less significant.
“With any birthday, it’s a pleasure to thank you [the campaigners] for what they have done, although they recognize that there is still a long way to go ”.
“We think of pride as a big meeting, but there can also be people who feel alone, or just go out, and this is a place where you can meet people or meet support.”
Asked about the absence of Met uniformed police officers marching in the parade, Woodfine described it as a “shame.”
“It’s important to be inclusive. We need them and they need us, ”he said.
“We don’t want any division, and God forbid [at Pride] and we have to make a call to them ”.
Updated at 12.54 BST
What is the route of the march?
Today’s parade will follow in the footsteps of the original 1972 Pride March. At noon, it started from the first podium at Hyde Park Corner and is now making its way along the edge of Green Park.
Participants will then reach the second podium at Piccadilly Circus, where they will turn right and head towards Charing Cross to the third podium at the top of Orange Street.
The parade will pass in front of the mall and end in Whitehall around 6 p.m.
You can check out the Pride parade route map on the London website.
Updated at 12.44 BST
Good afternoon everybody. You have me, Sophie Zeldin-O’Neill, here providing updates throughout the afternoon.
A little background on today’s march: Pride in London returns for the first time since 2019, with more than a million people expected to join the march. The big event marks the 50th anniversary of the capital’s first Pride March in 1972 and will feature performances on four stages in central London.
Singer and songwriter Emeli Sandé, Eurovision 2018 winner Netta, and pop and soul singer Samantha Mumba will take the stage.
The parade will close with a “spectacular” performance by pop superstar Ava Max in Trafalgar Square.
Updated at 12.38 BST
More than 1 million people are expected to join in the celebrations of the 50th anniversary of London Pride
More than a million people are expected to take to the streets of London today for the capital’s first Pride celebrations since the pandemic.
Today’s event, which also marks the 50th anniversary of the UK’s first Pride Parade, kicks off at noon at Hyde Park Corner.
Organizers, who have described the event as the “largest and most inclusive event in history,” said more than 30,000 people have registered to march at the 2022 Pride Parade and more than 400 community groups.
He will be led by the Gay Liberation Front, which marched on the first protest in 1972.
Follow the blog to receive updates throughout the afternoon.
Md Nabir Uddim and Mohammed Nazir, of London, before the Pride Parade in London today. Photography: James Manning / PA